restless leg syndrome?

Question

does anyone know of any good cures or remedies for restless leg syndrome, i have an under active thyroid gland so have poor circulation, which causes the restless legs, i mainly get it when l go to bed and then cant sleep.

Answer 1

RLS is a movement disorder, and the actual cause is currently unknown. There is a genetic variant which is found in persons likelly to have or develop RLS. It is known that people with RLS have a greater incidence of developing Parkinson's Syndrome. There are several medications and treatments for the condition, some which are specific for RLS and many which were originally developed of other conditions and found to be helpful in RLS patients. The presentation of RLS is different in different patients, and the response to treatment is variable also. Calcium and magnesium have been found to be helpful on the homeopathic side, but should be used with some caution in patients with thyroid/parathyroid disorders.

For those with mild to moderate symptoms, prevention is key, and many physicians suggest certain lifestyle changes and activities to reduce or eliminate symptoms. Decreased use of caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco may provide some relief. Physicians may suggest that certain individuals take supplements to correct deficiencies in iron, folate, and magnesium. Studies also have shown that maintaining a regular sleep pattern can reduce symptoms. Some individuals, finding that RLS symptoms are minimized in the early morning, change their sleep patterns. Others have found that a program of regular moderate exercise helps them sleep better; on the other hand, excessive exercise has been reported by some patients to aggravate RLS symptoms. Taking a hot bath, massaging the legs, or using a heating pad or ice pack can help relieve symptoms in some patients. Although many patients find some relief with such measures, rarely do these efforts completely eliminate symptoms

Physicians also may suggest a variety of medications to treat RLS. Generally, physicians choose from dopaminergics, benzodiazepines (central nervous system depressants), opioids, and anticonvulsants. Dopaminergic agents, largely used to treat Parkinson's disease, have been shown to reduce RLS symptoms and are considered the initial treatment of choice. Good short-term results of treatment with levodopa plus carbidopa have been reported, although most patients eventually will develop augmentation, meaning that symptoms are reduced at night but begin to develop earlier in the day than usual. Dopamine agonists such as pramipexole, and ropinirole hydrochloride may be effective in some patients and are less likely to cause augmentation.

In 2005, ropinirole became the only drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration specifically for the treatment of moderate to severe RLS.

Benzodiazepines (such as clonazepam and diazepam) may be prescribed for patients who have mild or intermittent symptoms. These drugs help patients obtain a more restful sleep but they do not fully alleviate RLS symptoms and can cause daytime sleepiness. Because these depressants also may induce or aggravate sleep apnea in some cases, they should not be used in people with this condition.

For more severe symptoms, opioids such as codeine, propoxyphene, or oxycodone may be prescribed for their ability to induce relaxation and diminish pain. Side effects include dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and the risk of addiction.

Anticonvulsants such as carbamazepine and gabapentin are also useful for some patients, as they decrease the sensory disturbances (creeping and crawling sensations). Dizziness, fatigue, and sleepiness are among the possible side effects.

Unfortunately, no one drug is effective for everyone with RLS. What may be helpful to one individual may actually worsen symptoms for another. In addition, medications taken regularly may lose their effect, making it necessary to change medications periodically.

It is usually considered optimal to have a polysomnogram to verify the diagnosis, as other conditions are known to mimic RLS.

I hope this is helpful.

Good Luck

Answer 2

I have got to say that the answers I have read are a bit distressing to me. I have had RLS for about 10 years and am seeing a sleep specialist for it, I have a sleep study scheduled for next month. I was hoping that I could find a treatment that would make the RLS go completely away but it seems like it will be a life long battle to sleep (by the answers I have read here.) I am going to try and see if acupuncture will help. The drugs that I have been prescribed seem to work for a while until I build up a resistance to them and then have to switch to a different one. The last one was Mirapex but I had very severe side effects and had to stop taking it and return to the Requip and Gabapenten that I was taking. Hot baths do help, also if you have a particularly physical day it seems worse. I also have it in my arms and legs. The most upsetting thing to me is that if you tell someone that you have RLS they look at you like you are from a different planet, ( like oh big deal) The public needs to realize what a debilitating disorder this can be. If anyone has had any experience with acupuncture being effective for RLS please respond to this question . Good luck with this.

Answer 3

I have the same thing and although I too have an under active thyroid, my RLS has been with me since I was a child and no one knew what it was. They have done many studies through the years and have found that RLS manifests itself differently in different people. Go on over to the RLS website and take a look at any remedies they are now offering. The last time I looked there were none.

Answer 4

Restless legs is a relatively recently describes condition, it is not thought to be linked to either circulation or thyroid disease. It is described as idiopathic, meaning the true cause is uncertain. It is generally felt to be a movement disorder, possibly related to Parkinsonism.

The current first choice therapies are anti-Parkinson's drugs.

Answer 5

Try a Yahoo search for "restless legs syndrome" + "natural remedies".

Answer 6

Try taking an asprin an hour before bed, it helped with mine, I'd had it for five years and was distressed with it. The doc put me on asprin to thin my blood and hey presto,,, it took the restless legs away. I only get them now and again and I can cope with that. Its worth a try isnt it? Good luck

Answer 7

there are medical drugs to treat this problem, which you can get from your medical doctor. they are helping many people with this problem.

Take A hot bath with 2c. of Epsom salts and soak for 30 minutes in the evening. this will help relax the muscles And increase your circulation before bedtime. Take 500mg of calcium and magnesium in the evening as this will help relax the muscles.

A hot cup of Chamomile Tea with honey will help you sleep better.

Answer 8

well i know my cause was not the same , but i had to go on hrt , and for some lack of calcium can be a factor, especially when the ageging process comes into play ..im only 36 saying that...lol but i was told taking a calcium supplement , but with magnesium might help as minerals can have a huge effect on things, and well whether it was kinda like the placebo effect or not it actually helped a great deal, it didnt when i took only the calcium on its own...
Best of luck

Answer 9

Some thyroid disorders can be cured, but many require lifetime treatment. Learn here https://tr.im/rbfCT
For example, sometimes early stage thyroid cancer can be cured by surgery to remove the thyroid gland, but you will need to take thyroid hormone medication afterwards for the rest of your life. Goiters can also be surgically removed and do not always recur after surgery. In most cases, thyroid disorders need treatment over a lifetime. However, with treatment most people with thyroid disorders can live normal, healthy lives.

Answer 10

leg exercises while you are awake
do an assortment
look them up
get a bunch of types
do different ones different days
then a nice 15-20 min walk a half hour before bedtime

helps those cramp things too